Workers at Home Bargains distribution centres are fearing for the future after being told of plans that could see their wages cut back.
One worker at one of the company's distribution centre in Liverpool said he will face an £8,000 pay cut under new proposals and will be unable to afford to pay his mortgage. The company said it does not intend to reduce pay or cut jobs under its proposed restructure.
But a document sent to staff and seen by the ECHO, suggests the changes would see three current roles within Home Bargains distribution centres streamlined into one position. It states that senior supervisor, supervisor and team leader positions would be replaced by one section manager job with a salary of £35,200.
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A supervisor in Liverpool that we spoke to, who asked to remain anonymous, said this would represent a significant cut to his current salary of around £43,000.
He said: "For me £8,000 is life changing, its whether I can pay my mortgage or not. We've got colleagues losing sleep over this and contacting well-being support, people are really worried. We all worked really hard through the pandemic and for this?"
Home Bargains, owned by Liverpool-based T.J. Morris, has been praised in recent years for its treatment of staff. In 2020, it rewarded staff for working through the pandemic by closing on Boxing Day and giving some staff an extra two weeks pay..
In the Distribution Centre Reorganisation proposals, issued to staff, Home Bargains bosses states: "More than ever it is vital that we protect and continue to grow our position in the market, we are privileged to be bucking the trend in retail that has seen so many closures in recent years. Therefore as we continue to grow and evolve, it is critical that all parts of our organisation are reviewed in our to protect our growth and unique culture."
In terms of the specific role changes, it said they are aiming to address the 'inconsistency of management roles by streamlining three current roles into one role of section manager. Confirming the £35,200 salary for a 40 hour week, it adds that a 19% premium is proposed to be paid when working a night shift.
The worker in Liverpool added: "Its farcical really, the company is doing really well and opening new shops all the time. We just feel like numbers, like we are valued at nothing."
A spokesperson for Home Bargains said: “We are currently talking to our warehouse team about some proposed changes. It is our intention that there will be no job losses and that colleagues’ pay will not be reduced. We will continue to talk to our colleagues throughout the consultation process regarding these intentions.”
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